Lady Fern

A lady because she is so beautiful, or because she hides her reproductive parts discreetly beneath her leaves – take your pick, but whatever you decide, there is no doubt she is beautiful. Tough, vigorous, fast-growing and reliable too, the Lady Fern is a dependable way to fill spaces beneath trees and large shrubs in any but the driest garden. The graceful fronds can reach 3 feet tall, making bold clumps that enlarge over a few years to make great ground cover. Bright green in spring, and darker in summer, they turn yellow and collapse in fall, to be replaced the next spring by clusters of rising fiddleheads, which are edible – just remember to leave some to regrow the plant. Able to take sun in cooler zones and damp soil, such as along a stream, grow this native fern everywhere, from formal gardens to wild ones, and everything in between.

• Tall, graceful fern that is fast-growing and vigorous
• Deciduous, turning yellow in fall
• Produces edible ‘fiddleheads’ in spring
• Untouched by deer or rabbits
• Tolerates clay and wet soil

If the soil is always moist, the Lady Fern will grow in full sun in cooler zones. It is hardy even in zone 4. Planting in any moist soil – extra organic material dug in, and used as mulch is ideal – but established plants will take some dryness during summer. Grows even in clay soils, and in wet ground too, but not directly in water. Durable and lives for many years, expanding into larger clusters within a few years, if happy. Doesn’t suffer from pests or diseases of any consequence, and is left alone by deer and rabbits. Cut off dead fronds in late fall to clean up – they can just be chopped and scattered as mulch.